Reality Therapy – Principles, Techniques & Interactive Quiz
Test Yourself First
Quick pre-learning check. Your score will show instantly.
Tip: Take this quiz now and again after reading to see your progress.
Reality Therapy: 5 Principles, 5 Steps, 5 Techniques
Choice-focused counselling that moves clients from excuses to effective action.
Updated: 07 Oct 2025
Chennai • Serving India & Worldwide (USA, Canada, UK, Australia, UAE, Saudi, Qatar)
5 Principles of Reality Therapy
- Choice & Responsibility: Clients choose behaviours; change begins when they own those choices and consequences.
- Present-Focused & Reality-Based: Work with what the client is doing now and what is realistically controllable.
- Needs-Satisfaction: All behaviour attempts to meet basic needs (love & belonging, power/achievement, freedom, fun, survival).
- Behaviour over Symptoms: Rather than analysing symptoms, target specific, observable actions that can change.
- No Excuses, No Punishment—Accountability: Empathic, firm coaching that rejects blaming and builds workable plans.
Clinically, these principles align with Choice Theory and translate into practical, session-by-session planning.
5 Steps in Reality Therapy (WDEP + Follow-Up)
Use these in order within sessions and across treatment.
- W — Wants: Clarify what the client wants in relationships, work, health (their “quality world”).
- D — Doing: Map what they are doing right now—actions, thoughts, feelings, physiology.
- E — Evaluation: Ask, “Is what you’re doing helping you get what you want?” Invite honest self-evaluation.
- P — Planning: Co-create a small, specific plan that is doable this week (see SAMI2C3 below).
- Commitment & Follow-Up: Gain a clear commitment; review results next session and adjust the plan.
Pro tip: Keep plans bite-sized and entirely within the client’s control to execute.
5 Techniques in Reality Therapy
- WDEP Questioning: Structured questions to elicit Wants, current Doing, self-Evaluation, and concrete Planning.
- Self-Evaluation Prompts: Repeated, gentle questions (“How is this helping?”) to build insight without shaming.
- Behavioural Contracts: Short, written agreements specifying the exact behaviour, timeline, and review date.
- Role-Play & Rehearsal: Practice key conversations or boundary-setting before trying them in real life.
- SAMI2C3 Planning: Plans are Simple, Attainable, Measurable, Immediate, Involved (client-driven), Controlled by the client, Committed, Consistent.
Combine these with warm rapport and firm accountability for fastest results.
Related Posts
Reality Therapy – Principles, Techniques & Interactive Quiz
07/10/2025
Reality Therapy: Principles, Steps & Techniques | Quiz...
Understanding Depression: Symptoms, Differences, and Treatment Options
14/11/2023
Introduction Depression is a common mental health disorder that affects millions...
Understanding Drivers in Transactional Analysis
17/11/2023
Introduction Transactional Analysis (TA) is a psychological theory that helps...